Apparatus for cleaning castings or metal parts



A June 13, 1.944.

w. A. PEARL -APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CASTINGS OR METAL PARTS 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25 yfsa' W. A. PEARL June 13, 1944.

A APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CASTINGS OR METAL PARTS F11-ed May 25. 1942 4 Sheets-SheetZ June 13, 1944. w A, PEARL 2,351,453

APPRATUS FOR CLEANING CASTINGS OR METAL PARTS Filed May y2:5 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 13, 1944. w'. A PEARL 2,351,453

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CASTINGS OR `METAL PARTS Filed May 23 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 13, 1944 R METAL PARTS William A. Pearl, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Whiting Corporation, Harvey, Ill.

nois

, a corporation of Illi- Application May 23, 1942, Serial No. 444,268

11 Claims.

The invention relates to ing castings or metal parts.

One object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the rotary tumbler type in which an abrasive is hydraulically projected against the castings and which `is tiltable for convenience in charging the drum with castings and discharging them therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this type which is compact so it can be installed in foundries where space must be economized.

apparatus for clean- Another object of the invention is to providel apparatus of this type which eiiiciently cleans the castings and can be economically operated.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the vdetail description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter ,set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 1a is a section taken on line Ia-Ia of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is an opposite side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is va section taken on line 4-4 `of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is `a perspective of the tiltable frame in which the drum is journaled, and the shell around the drum. y l y Fig. 6 is an end elevation illustrating the door for closing one end of the drum.

Fig. 7 is a detail section illustrating the ,blastnozzle for water and abrasive which is mounted on the door.

The inventionr is exemplified in apparatus. which comprises a stationary supporting struc'- ture, a substantially v,L1-shaped frame tiltably mounted in the structure; a drum orV barrel, .one end' of which is open for receiving and discharg-4 ing castings` and the other end -of which is journaled in the tiltable frame; a shell lcarried by the tilt'able frame for catching water and sand from the drum f gearing for rotating the drum on vits longitudinal axis ;a door or cover for `,cl'osing. the open end of the drum while v.the castings are being cleaned, `and a hydro-blast nozzle .for -dfe" livering. high pressure waterl and sand onto the.

castings' in the drum. ,Y

"I he supportingstructure comprises `ap'pa'ir of standards I2 which are anchoredlto a suitable foundation andare cross yconrviected 'by an angular beam I3.; The .standards I 2 are spacedapartto support between them frame pivoted in said frame. The tiltable frame comprises side-beams Iii` and a channeled cross'.- beam I5 which cross connects one'end ofthe beams. One side-beam`l4has fiXedly 'secured thereto a trunnion I6 rand the other has secured thereto a cofaxial trunnion Il, .which arerotatably supported by the standards I2, respectively. Screws I2a on standards I2r limit the tilting of said frame in .one direction.

A drum I8 comprises a cylindrical ywall I9 and an end wall 20. A shaft 2|, provided with a flange 22, is secured by bolts 23 to the end wall 20 of the drum and'is vjournaled in a Ibushing 24 which is supported in a bearing 25, which is xedly attached to the cross-beam I 5. The drum is rotated to tumble thecastngs ,by .gearing hereinafter described. `The innerperiphery'of the cylindrical wall I9 .ofV the drum is provided with helicalilights 26 for tumbling the castings and deiectin'g them away from-the fclosedend .of the drum. A liner-plate 2'!V is secured. by boltsZ to the end 20 of thedrum. A sectional vWear-ring 29 is secured to the outer portion of the plate 21 byscrews 30. The cylindrical wall I9 of the `drum is provided adjacent its' closed endv with perforations 3l for the escape-oi Water,y sand andj the materials cleaned yfromthe castings.

During the washing operation the open endof t-e drum is closed b y a'doorl32 which isfsu'pported yby beams or extensions which are fixed to and project from the stationary st andaris- |12 along the sides of the drum. This door is adapted to be locked soit` of the drum, when the-drum isv in its operative position and is inclined downward-1y from its open end and to be swung laterally' to one side ofthe drum when the drum is to be swung downwardly to its discharging position. The `door 32 is'pro vided with a bracket'33 whichfis hinged'` by a pin 34 so the door can be swunglaterally away from the open 'lend vof the' drum' toene side thereof. Pin' l3!lj is` held in a 'bracket35 which' is supported by a beam 36 which is secured to 'and serves as an arm for supporting. the hinged Nside .of the door from one .of the standards I2; `The doorg has .secured to its opposite side, afbarl' which is provided `with a hole, 38 adaptedt'o receive a pin 39, which is supported from a` beam 36 which is nsecured to and forms an arm .on the other standard I2. Pin 3,9 and ,bar-31am adapted to Support the door, 3.2 in .its closedlposition. A

lock-pin V4D isy adapted to be extendedthrough j .bar 31 and pin v3'9 to secure the A,door in its closed the' drum and the tilting' 65" position. A bracket 36a on one of the beams 36 extends across the'open endl standard I2; a sprocket wheel 48 secured to gear 46; a sprocket chain 49, driven by sprocket 48; a sprocket wheel 50, driven by chain v 49; a transverse shaft 5| journaled in bearings 52 which are fixed on cross beam |5 of the .tiltable .f

frame; a bevel pinion 5|a fixed to the inner end of shaft 5|, and a bevel gear 53, which is keyed to the outer end of shaft 2| on the drum.,

Co-axial trunnions I6 and I1 support the tiltable frame in which the drum is journaled, so the frame and drum will tilt longitudinally on an axis transverse of the drum, which is located longitudinally between the ends of the drum and said frame. This transverse axis is located so that with an average load in the drum, the drum and frame will be approximately balanced for vertical tilting between unloading and charging positions. A lever 55, for manually tilting the drum and the frame in vwhich it is journaled, is keyed to the trunnion |1 on the outside of one of the standards I2. Lever is provided with a handle 56 and extends ythrough a guide 51 which is fixed to and supported by the beam 36 which is fixed to one of the standards I2. Lever 55 has a limited vertical movement between the sides of guide 51. Lever 55 is provided with a hole which is adapted to receive a pin 58, which is adapted to extend through holes 59 in guide 51 for locking the lever 55 and the tilting frame in its raised and lowered positions, respectively. The locking pin 58 for lever 55 is adapted to lock the tiltable frame so that the longitudinal axis of the drum, during the cleaning operation, will be inclined upwardly from itsY closed end at a suitable angle to cause the flights 26 on the drum to tumble the castings toward the door 32 and against gravity. This causes the castings to gravitate toward the closed end of the drum during the cleaning of the castings, and the flights t0 move them in the opposite direction,

during the cleaning operation. When the lever 55 is tilted to its lower predetermined position, the longitudinal'axis of the drum will be inclined downwardly from itsvclosed endvto facilitate the discharge of the cleaned castings from the drum. The side beams |4 and end beam I5 form a rigid three-sided frame which pivotally supports the drum, the shell around gearing for driving can be tilted and inclined downwardly from its open end while loading' the. castingsV intoV the drum and during the cleaning operation,a nd inclined upwardly 4from said end while discharging them from the drum. The VVextensions or arms formed by means 36 stationarily support from the standards I2, andthe door 32, which closes the drum' during the washing operation and permits it to be swung to one side to clear the openy end ofthe drum for loading and unloading.

fA nozzle 6|)V is j 591 on the door 32,4 and is supplied with water under high pressure from a flexible pipe 6|, and with sand and water from a `flexible pipe 62 `for the drum and the the drum wherebyy the drum mounted Lin an. angular oilsetA in the drum. The nozzle is supported by a bracket 63 which is supported from angular 01T- set 591 of the door 32. Normally, the jet of water and sand from nozzle is directed to the castings being tumbled around the longitudinally [central portion of the drum. After the castings have been hydro-blasted it is sometimes desirable to flush them'with rWater to carry off the sandV and material lwhi'ehlhave been removed from the castings. It is desirable to spread the stream of water in the end of the drum adjacent the door 32, and for this purpose Ia' deflector 65 is pivotably supported by a shaft 66, which is provided with a handle 61, whereby the kdefiector, 65 may be swung to deflect the stream fromv nozzle 60 and spread it in the drum.

A shell is provided around the drum to catch the discharged water, sand and material reprojecting Water and abrasive onto .thecastings the lock-pin 40.

moved from the casting, and to direct them to suitable separating devices. This shell comprises an upper semi-cylindrical section 68, and a lower cylindrical section 69, each provided with an end wall 19. These sections have flanges secured to the top and bottom, respectively, of the sides I4 and end-beam |5, and form with the frame a housing into which the water and sand Will be discharged through, the openings 3| in the drum I8. Adjacent 'the closed end of, the drum the lower section 69 is provided with opening 1| through which the water, sand' and material removed from the castings will be discharged from the shell. This she1l is tiltable with the frame and drum. The open end of the shell terminates adjacent the inner face of the door 32, and an annular flange @l2b on the door extends around the drum and directs any splash from the drum into the shell. While 'castings are being cleaned, the shell is inclined so gravity will cause the water and sand to flow to Adischargev opening 1|. Annular flanges 12 and 13 on thel cross-beam I5 and end 20 of the drum I8 prevent the flow of water and sand to the bearing for the shaft 2| which drives the drum I8.

The material discharged from the shell around the drum flows to a coarse screen 14 which catches pieces of casting or the like to separate them from the water and vthe sand, which is recovered for reuse. The screen 14 is Vsupported in a hopper 15 which includes a splash-plate 16 and an inclined flnerlscreen .11. From screen 11 the water andY sand passY sand-pit 19. The sand is collected in pit 19 for reuse with the hydrofblast. From pitV 19 the water overflows and passes through an opening to a pit 8| in which thefines will be deposited. From the pit 6| the water willflow over abaille 82 which retains the fines inl pit 8|, tovanv outlet 84 which leads to the sewer. TheV pit 8| slows down the flow ofl water to settle the lines in pit 8|. Pit 8| iscovered by a floor-grid 85.

The operation of the' apparatus will be as follows:v The drum, the shell around the drum and the tilting frame in which the drum is .'Iournaled will be locked in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, for charging, while the door 32 is swung to one side, as illustrated Vby dotted lines in Fig. 6, so the castings 'can be dumped into, and 'will' be retained in', the drum. 'A The castings can then be easily dumped into the` drum. lNext the door 32 will be closed and locked in its closevdposition by The motor 42,'will then be started to tumble the castings'in' the rdrum and the hydro-blast nozzlewill be controlled ,to project Water andk abrasivejunderlhigh pressure against the. castings lin the,..rotating^drum.' When the through a vbox 18 linto a drum is rotating in this position it will be inclined so gravity will tend to move the castings toward the closed end of the drum. The iiights 26 will direct; the castings against gravity so that the castings will be continuously moved longitudinally and tumb-led in the drum. During this operation, the water, sand and materials Washed from the castings will flow through the openings 3| adjacent the inner end of the drum and be discharged into the shell around the drum. From the shell they will escape through the opening 'H and be directed to screen 14 wherepieces `of iron or larger particles will be retained for removal. Next the Awater and sand will pass through screen 'l1 into the sand-pit 19, where the sand will settle and be available for reuse. The water will overow from pit 19 through opening 80 into pit 8l where the flow of water will be retarded for the settling of the fines. After a batch of castings has been cleaned, the iiow of sand from the hydro-blast nozzle will be stopped and water will be discharged from said nozzle and spread by deflector 65 to flush the sand and material removed from the castings. From the pitl the Water will be carried off as waste. After a batch of castings has been cleaned, the operator will unlock lever 55 and depress it until the axis of the drum is inclined downwardly toward the end at which the door 32 is located, and open said door.

The castings will then be quickly discharged, and if desired the drum can .be rotated so that the nights will move them through the open end of the drum into a suitable receptacle for transportation. The drum may be locked in said position during this operation by pin 58 and the hole in the lower end of guide 51. During the tilting of the drum between ycharging and discharging positions the driving connections for the drum will remain operative, by reason of the gear 45 being coaxial with the axis of trunnions i6, I1.

The invention exemplies apparatus of the drum type for cleaning castings, in which the drum is tiltable on a transverse axis intermediate its ends for shifting the drum between charging and discharging positions. This approximately balances the drum under load and facilitates manual tilting. The driving connections remain operative in both positions of the drum. The

deiiector for the stream from the hydro-blast nozzle makes it possible to thoroughly rinse the castings after each cleaning operation. The appara- V tus as a whole can be installed where small space is available. It is simple in construction and eiiicient in operation.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the-scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

VHaving thus described the invention, what I regard as new and desire to claim by Letters Patent is: v

l. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a. supporting structure comprising standards, a frame between the standards, having sides and an end, a drum having an open end and a substantially closed end, extending longitudinally of, journaled to rotate in, and bodily movable with the frame, means for supporting the frame to swing on the structure on a transverse axis, disposed longitudinally between the ends of the drum so that the drum can be inclined downwardly for moving the castings along the drum toward its closed end, and its inclination varied for unloading, means for discharging water and an abrasive under pressure vinto the drum, the

drum being provided with outlets for the water and sand, a shell around the drum supported by and movable with the frame, and provided adjacent the closed end Yof the drum with a discharge opening, mechanism for driving the drum, and a door for closing the open end of the drum.

2. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a supporting structure comprising standards, a frame between the standards, having sides and an end, a drum having an open end and a substantially closed end, extending longitudinally of, journaled to rotate in, and bodily movable with the frame, means for supporting the frame to swing on the structure on a transverse axis, disposed longitudinally between the ends of the drum so that the drum can be inclined downwardly for moving the castings along the drum toward its closed end, and reversely inclined for unloading, means for discharging water and an abrasive under pressure into the drum,

the drum being provided with outlets for the water and sand, a shell around the drum supported by and movable with the frame, and provided adjacent the closed end of the drum with a discharge opening, mechanism for driving the drum, a door for closing the open end of the drum, the shell having its end open adjacent the door, and means under the discharge opening for receiving water and sand from the shell.

3. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a supporting structure comp-rising standards, a frame between the standards comprising side-beams and an end-beam, a drum having an open end and a substantially closed end, extending longitudinally of, j ournaled to rotate in, and bodily movable with the frame, means for supporting the frame on the structure to swing on a transverse axis, disposed longitudinally between the ends of the drum so that the drum can be inclined downwardly for moving the castings along the drum toward its closed end, and otherwise inclined for unloading, means for discharging water and an abrasive under pressure into the drum, the drum being provided with outlets for the water and sand, a shell around the drum comprising sections on the top and bottom of the sides and ends of the frame, and provided adjacent the closed end of the drum with a discharge opening, mechanism for driving the drum, and a door for closing the open end of the drum.

4. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a supporting structure comprising standards, a frame between the standards having sides and an end, a drum having an open endand a substantially closed end, extending longitudinally of, ljournaleol to rotate in, and bodily movable; with the frame, means for supporting the frame to swing on the structure on a transverse axis, disposed longitudinally between the ends of the drum 4so that the drum can be inclined downwardly for moving the castings along the drum toward its closed end, and its inclination varied for unloading, means for discharging water and an abrasive under pressure into the drum, the drurnbeing provided with outlets for the water and sand, a shell around the drum on the frame and provided adjacent the closed end of the drum with a discharge opening, mechanism for driving the drum, and a door Ifor closing the open end of the drum, an annular flange on the `door and extending into the shell.

5. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a supporting structure comprising standards, a frame between the standards, a drum drum having an open end and a substantially closed end, extending longitudinally of,

and journaled to rotate in, and bodily movable with the frame, means for pivotally supporting the frame on the-structure, a nozzle for dischargbination of a supporting structure comprising' standards, a frame between the standards, a

drum .having an open end and. a substantiallyv closed end, extending longitudinally of, and journaled to rotate in, and bodily movable with theI frame, means for pivotally supporting the frame on Ythe structure, a nozzle for discharging water.

and an abrasive under pressure onto the castings in the drum, a deflector for spreading water over the castings in the drum for rinsing them after they have been cleaned, a door on 'which the discharge means and deilector are mounted, pivotally supported on the structure, and means -for driving the drum.

'7. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a supporting structure comprising standards, a frame, a drum having an open end and a substantially closed end, kextending longitudinally of, and journaled to rotate in, and bodily movable with the frame, trunnions for supporting the frame on the structure to swing on a transverse axis, means for discharging a jet of water and an abrasive under high pressure into the drum, the drum having discharge openings adjacent its closed end, a shell around the drum, supported-.by the frame, and having a discharge opening adjacent the closed end of the drum, a pit below the discharge opening in the shell, for catching sand for reuse, and a pit into which the water overflows from the sand-pit, for separating the iines from the Water.

8. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a supporting structure comprising standards, a frame, a drum having an open end and a substantially closed end, extending longitudinally of, and j ournaled to rotate in, and bodilymovable with the. frame,`trunnions for supporting the frameV on Vthe structure to swing on a transverse axis, meansfor discharging a jet of water and an abrasive under high pressure into the drum, the drum having discharge openings adjacent its closed end, a shell around the drum supported by the frame, and having a discharge opening adjacent the closed end of the drum, a pit below the discharge opening in the shell, for catching sand for reuse,screens between the shell and the sand-pit, and a pit into which the water overows from the sand-pit for separating the fines from the water.

9. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a supporting structure comprising stationary standards, a frame having sides and an end, a drum between said sides, having an open end and a substantially closed end and extending longitudinally of and journaled on the end of the frame to rotate in, and bodily movable with the frame, trunnions projecting laterally from the sides of the frame for supporting the frame on the structure to swing on a transverse axis disposed longitudinally Ibetween the ends of the drum so that the drum Vcan be inclined long itudinally downward from its open end for moving the castings toward the closed end of the drum and its inclination 'changed for unloading, the standards being provided with fixed arms projecting from the trunnions and extending longitudinally tothe open end of the drum, a door for closing the open end of the drum pivotally supported Lon-the xed arm at one side of the drum, means for locking the door to the other iixed arm, means supported by the door for discharging a jet of water and an abrasive under high pressure through the drum, and mechanism for rotating the drum.

10. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a supporting structure comprising stationary standards, a frame having sides and an end, a drum `between said sides, having an open end and a substantially closed end and extending longitudinally of and journaled on the end of the frame to rotate in, and bodily movable with the frame, trunnions projecting laterallyy from the sides of the frame for supporting the frame on the structure to swing on a transverse axis disposed longitudinally between the ends of the drum so that the drum can be inclined longitudinally downward from its open end for moving the castings toward the closed end of the drum and its inclination changed for unloading, the standards having xed thereto beams forming arms projecting from the trunnions to the open end of the drum, a door for closing theV open end of the drum pivotally supported on the xed beam at one side of the drum, means for locking the door to the other xed beam, means supported by the door for discharging a jet of water and an abrasive under high pressure through the drum, and mechanism for rotating the drum, A

11. In apparatus for cleaning castings, the combination of a supporting structure comprising stationary standards, a frame having sides and an end, a drum between said sides, having an open, end and a substantially closed end and extending longitudinally of and journaled on the end of the frame to rotate in, and bodily movable with the frame, trunnions projecting laterally from the sides of the frame for supporting the frame on the structure to swing on a transverse axis disposed longitudinally between the ends of the drum so that the drum can be inclined longitudinallydownward from its open end for moving the castings toward the closed endrof the drum and its inclinationchanged for unloading, the vstandards ybeing provided with fixed arms projecting lfrom the trunnions andextending longitudinally to the open end fof the drum, a door for closing the open end of the drum pivotally supported on the xed arm at one-side of thegdrum, means for locking the door to the other fixed arm, a lever for shifting the drum fixed tol one of the trunnions and extended longitudinally to project beyond the doors, means between one of the arms and the lever and adjacent the door for locking the lever, means supported yby the door-for discharging a jet of water and an abrasive under high pressure through the drum, and mechanism for rotating the drum.

, WILLIAM A. PEARL. 

